No one ever had fresher breath, and it had nothing to do with modern mouthwashes or breath mints.
"And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:22)
Talk about a breath of fresh air! Jesus, in His glorified resurrection body, breathes on His faithful followers and empowers them with the Father's dynamic Holy Spirit. He does so in response to an important declaration and directive He has just given:
"Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21)
True peace can only come through the Comforter, God's Holy Spirit, and that peace is essential to our mission. As recipients of peace, we are sent out into the world as Christ's duly-appointed representatives to share the gospel of peace: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9)
The gospel of the Kingdom that we experience and promote is truly a message of peace. It offers personal peace between individuals and God as well as ultimate peace in an earthly paradise. It produces a peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) amidst a world of turmoil and conflict.
I've received the breath of the Spirit that produces peace and sends me out with the gospel of peace, but sometimes I long for a "fresh breath" of the Spirit. There are times in life when the air seems a bit stale and there is a longing to open the windows of our lives to the refreshing breeze of the Spirit.
This much we can be confident of: Jesus stands near each of us and breathes the Father's Spirit upon us in measure just as we need to experience peace and to be sent out with His message of peace.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Steve
"And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:22)
Talk about a breath of fresh air! Jesus, in His glorified resurrection body, breathes on His faithful followers and empowers them with the Father's dynamic Holy Spirit. He does so in response to an important declaration and directive He has just given:
"Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (John 20:21)
True peace can only come through the Comforter, God's Holy Spirit, and that peace is essential to our mission. As recipients of peace, we are sent out into the world as Christ's duly-appointed representatives to share the gospel of peace: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Matthew 5:9)
The gospel of the Kingdom that we experience and promote is truly a message of peace. It offers personal peace between individuals and God as well as ultimate peace in an earthly paradise. It produces a peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) amidst a world of turmoil and conflict.
I've received the breath of the Spirit that produces peace and sends me out with the gospel of peace, but sometimes I long for a "fresh breath" of the Spirit. There are times in life when the air seems a bit stale and there is a longing to open the windows of our lives to the refreshing breeze of the Spirit.
This much we can be confident of: Jesus stands near each of us and breathes the Father's Spirit upon us in measure just as we need to experience peace and to be sent out with His message of peace.
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Steve
posted by steve @ 9:07 AM
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